Austin Dog Blog | Anything and Everything Dog in Austin, TX!

Mark Your Calendar 4 Austin Dog Alliance's 1 Year Anniversary Party!

 

America's Most Popular Pooches!

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Adopt a Greyhound!

 I was unaware until this week that there has been an increasing trend of Greyhound tracks closing all over the United States.   With each track closure, hundreds of dogs become displaced.  Some are housed by the track owners until they are rescued, some are adopted immediately, some go to rescue groups, some get shipped to open tracks in other states, and some are euthanized.  

I reached out to Marnie Reeder at the Greyhound Rescue Austin to find out how this trend is impacting their organization.  "I wouldn't say we are seeing an increase yet.  The track closings are pretty far away, so they would have to be transported.  There have been constant requests to ship some to us, but sadly, as Texas always has so many Greyhounds needing help, we don't have room.  This will definitely affect us in the future, because as there are fewer tracks nationwide, there will be fewer racing opportunities for the Greyhounds born in Texas.  And Texas is a major Greyhound breeding state", she responded.  

If you're thinking about adopting a dog, consider one of the wonderful Greyhounds available.  Greyhound Rescue Austin has several available:

 Adoption Days

• Every 2nd Sunday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. (Except Easter)
  PetSmart North
  1628 Ohlen Road
  (512) 835-7221
  Map to Petsmart North 
  

Adoption and Open House

This is a very relaxed way to meet and interact with the dogs in a home environment. Also, GRA members and fosters drop by, with their dogs, to visit, too.

• Every 3rd, 4th and 5th Saturday from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
  2805 West Fresco Dr.
  (512) 453-7737
  Map to location 

The Results Are In!

This morning I was happy to find an email from Wisdom Panel saying Gracie's panel results from her Doggie DNA test were ready!  Throughout the process, Wisdom Panel provided a helpful status tracker for anxious pet owners (me!) awaiting their results.  At anytime, I could check online to see 1. that they received my sample kit, 2. that it was being processed and I was alerted immediately when 3. the report was ready for download.  

 Gracie's results were provided in a user-friendly graphical format, displaying the breeds found in her analysis to be American Bulldog, Australian Cattle Dog and Anatolian Shepherd Dog.  Gracie's testing only resulted in "intermediate breeds" which means 25% of her DNA matched their database for the 3 breeds listed.  

I was surprised to find that Rat Terrier was not listed as a "significant breed" but when I cross-referenced the Wisdom Panel Breed Library, rat terrier was not one of their 170 breeds profiled in the database.  I was not surprised to see Australian Cattle Dog though as I've long suspected she has some sort of herding breed in her.  And, American Bull Dog would also explain the brindled coat.  I'm still at a bit of a loss for Anatolian Shepherd Dog, that one might be way down on the family tree.  

 This has definitely been an exciting and rewarding experience.  Having an ancestral profile of Gracie will help me to better understand her behavior tendencies and provide her with the proper nutrition and exercise programs that make her most happy!

Still in Need of a 2010 Calendar?

Pick up your very own Texas Howlers Music & Mutts Calendar!  This year's calendar features Ray Benson, Shawn Nelson, Redd Volkaert, Davis McLarty, Charles Attal, JD Pendley, The Indigo Girls, Tom Lewis of Heybale, Ozomatli, Nathan Quiring of The Lost and Nameless Orchestra, Carolyn Wonderland, and The Arc Angels.

Get yours today while they still last!  They're available at the following locations throughout Austin!

Central Austin
Bark N Purr
Genuine Joe's
Mantis Salon
Plush Pad

Downtown
BookPeople
Lofty Dog
Midtown Grooming
Viva Day Spa
Waterloo Records
Wild about Music

North Austin
Sunbury Veterinary Clinic

South Austin
Farm to Market
Lee Mannix Center
Parts and Labour
Prima Dora

Several locations
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Reminder! Austin Yappy Hour -- This Sunday!

Mark your calendars for the first Austin Yappy Hour of 2010!  Bring your dog to Irie Bean from 2 - 5 pm for a some fun (and drink specials for the happy owners!).  Austin Dog Blog will be there too...

This Week on DogTown!

Friday, January 29 at 10PM ET/PT, NatGeo

Shy dogs are often among the first to be euthanized in shelters because they are difficult to adopt, but not at DogTown, a no-kill facility.  Little Girl, a Catahoula leopard dog mix, is given a second chance and learns to overcome her fears with help from John Garcia, in hopes that she will be adopted.  Later we will follow a morbidly obese Chihuahua, Tuli, with a tiny head and a pineapple-size body, who must loose weight to become healthy enough for adoption.  Finally, we meet Shockey, a terrier mix who is full of energy and excitement that makes her hard to control.  See how DogTown manager Michelle Besmehn works to help Shockey listen to commands and overcome her stubbornness.

DogTown the Game: Now Available at NatGeo Games!

Based on the hit National Geographic TV show, DogTown the game takes you through various environments and cases in which you can try your hand at volunteering at the virtual DogTown! You'll be helping mentally and physically repair canines by diagnosing ailments, playing catch, teaching tricks, and finding them a loving home. 

From Bow to Wow!

This segment from Today shows us how shelter dogs can be transformed to look like the pick of the litter!

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Salmonella Warning Issued for Some Dog Treats!

Merrick Beef Filet Squares may be contaminated, FDA cautions
 

updated 7:52 a.m. CT, Fri., Jan. 15, 2010

WASHINGTON - Consumers should not use certain beef dog treats distributed by Merrick Pet Care because the pet food might be contaminated with salmonella, health authorities warned on Thursday.

Merrick Beef Filet Squares for dogs were distributed nationwide through retail stores and the Internet. No illnesses linked to the products have been reported, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA warned that contaminated pet food could also infect people if they handled the dog treats and have not thoroughly cleaned their hands.

The Merrick Beef Filet Squares were packaged in a 10-ounce green, red and tan resealable plastic bag. They are labeled "best by 111911."

 

Last month, the FDA conducted routine testing of the treats and found evidence for salmonella. Another inspection found deficiencies in the packaging and manufacturing.

Humans infected with the salmonella can experience fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. It could also cause more serious problems such as arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract problems. In pets, salmonella can cause diarrhea, fevers, vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy and abdominal pain.